Suspect charged for school principal’s death

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Police on Aug 18, 2022 charged the suspect who stabbed dead a 56-year-old elementary school principal and seriously wounded a 10-year-old girl last Aug 16, 2022 in an apartment at Green Earth Village, Barangay Mongpong here.

Lt. Col. Aaron Palomo, Roxas City police chief, said robbery with homicide charges were filed against John Peter Obarra of Brgy. Balat-an, Mambusao, Capiz.

Frustrated murder was also filed against Obarra before the City Prosecutors’ Office for wounding the principal’s alleged adopted minor daughter during the incident.

The suspect was accused of stabbing Jun Vista Mencedez, principal of Minoro Elementary School in Barangay Bula, Mambusao, Capiz.

Mencedez suffered three fatal stab wounds in his neck, three on his breast, and five more in different parts of his body. He was declared dead on arrival at Health Centrum Hospital in Barangay Banica, Roxas City.

Obarra was arrested at his house in Barangay Balat-an, Mambusao, Capiz in a hot pursuit operation by the police. He is presently under custody at the Crisis Center of the City Social Welfare and Development Office here after he is confirmed to be a minor.

Obarra will turn 18 years old on Aug 31.

Investigation by the Roxas City police indicated that Mencedez and Obara were drinking liquor at the victim’s apartment the night before the incident.

They were joined by another friend identified as Alvin Aniero.

Palomo said Obara was injured, too, after the victim managed to fight back and scuffle for the scissor which was used by the suspect in stabbing the victim and his adopted daughter.

Palomo said the motive could be robbery because the victim’s wallet was missing.

It was learned that the suspect was with the victim when the latter withdrew money from an ATM before they proceeded to the apartment.